n, hurriedly, who, whatever plans he
might be forming in his mind, quickly saw the inconvenience of such a
step.

"It shall be as you please in every respect, Fagan. Now, on Tuesday
morning--"

"Not so fast, sir,--not so fast," said Fagan, calmly. "You have n't
given me time for much reflection now; and the very little thought I
have bestowed on the matter suggests grave doubts to me. Nobody knows
better than Mr. Carew that a wide gulf separates our walk in life from
his; that however contented with our lot in this world, it is a very
humble one--"

"Egad! I like such humility. The man who can draw a check for ten
thousand at sight, and yet never detect any remarkable alteration in
his banker's book, ought to be proud of the philosophy that teaches him
contentment. Tony, my worthy friend, don't try to mystify me. You know,
and you 'd be a fool if you did n't know, that with your wealth and your
daughter's beauty you have only to choose the station she will occupy.
There is but one way you can possibly defeat her success, and that is by
estranging her from the world, and withdrawing her from all intercourse
with society. I can't believe that this is your intention; I can
scarcely credit that it could be her wish. Let us, then, have the honor
of introducing her to that rank, the very highest position in which she
would grace and dignify. I ask it as a favor,--the very greatest you can
bestow on us."

"No, sir; it cannot be. It's impossible, utterly impossible."

"I am really curious to know upon what grounds, for I confess they are a
secret to me!"

"So they must remain, then, sir, if you cannot persuade me to open more
of my heart than I am in the habit of doing with comparative strangers.
I can be very grateful for the honor you intend me, Mr. Carew; but the
best way to be so is, probably, not to accompany that feeling with any
sense of personal humiliation!"

"You are certainly not bent on giving me any clew to your motives,
Fagan."

"I'm sorry for it, sir; but frankness to you might be great unfairness
to myself."

"More riddles, Tony, and I 'm far too dull to read them."

"Well, then, sir, perhaps you'd understand me when I say that Anthony
Fagan, low and humble as he is, has no mind to expose his daughter to
the sneers and scoffs of a rank she has no pretension to mix with; that,
miser as he is, he would n't bring a blush of shame to her cheek for all
the wealth of India! and that, rather than sit at h